Zipper safety fastener

ABSTRACT

A zipper safety fastener including a toggle mounted pivotally on the slider of the zipper and a spring-type catch operatively associated with the slider and toggle and releasably engaged with the interlocking fastener elements of the zipper to automatically retain the slider in adjusted position when the toggle or handle on the slider is released.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Elmer Holman 1005 Hill St., Dallas, Oreg. 97338 [21] Appl. No. 871,920 [22] Filed Oct. 28, 1969 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [54] ZIPPER SAFETY FASTENER 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. C1 24/205.l4 [51] Int. Cl A44b 19/30 [50] Field of Search 24/205.14,

[561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,261,131 11/1941 Beckwith 24/205.14

3,068,542 12/ 1962 Firing 24/205. 14 3,080,632 3/ 1963 Holman..... 24/205.14 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,502 l/ 1944 Great Britain 24/205. 14 763,241 12/ 1956 Great Britain 24/205 14 Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Attorney1-1omer A. Smith 24 I 42 X I I xit 2 3 '3 26 r fl f 40 I /a 46 1 t |44 L L l-go I 20 PATENTEDmzsxsn 3579.749

/6 Elmer Holman INVENTOR ZIPPER SAFETY FASTENER The present invention generally relates to a zipper structure and more particularly to a device for automatically locking the slider in adjusted position when the handle or toggle on the slider is released.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lock device for a slider on a zipper construction in the form of a spring catch including a gripping central portion engageable with the interlocking fastener elements of the zipper and end portions engaged with the slider and pivotal handle or toggle in a manner to spring bias the gripping portion into engagement with the fastener elements whenever the toggle is released.

Another object of this invention is to provide a zipper safety lock in which a spring catch having a generally V-shaped configuration with one leg being longer than the other and a rounded apex which engages the fastener elements.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lock device in accordance with the preceding objects which is simple in construction, effective in use, long lasting, dependable and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a zipper with the safety lock of the present invention incorporated therein.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along section line 3-3 on FIG. 2 illustrating the structural details of the lock device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spring catch.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the zipper construction includes conventional interlocking fastener elements carried by tapes 12, a longitudinally movable slider 14 having a handle or toggle l6 and a spring catch generally designated by numeral 18. The fastener elements 10 are engaged and separated in a conventional manner by longitudinal movement of the slider 14.

The slider 14 includes a top plate having an opening 22 therein providing access to the top surface of the fastener elements 10. A pair of upstanding lugs 24 are mounted at one end of the plate 20 and receive a pivot pin 26 which pivotally supports the free end portions of spaced parallel legs 28 on the handle or toggle 16. The lower edge of each leg 28 is inclined at 30 to engage the upper surface of the plate 20 to limit the upward swinging movement of toggle 16 about pivot pin 26.

The spring catch 18 is generally V shaped and includes a generally long leg 32 and a short leg 34 joined by a rounded apex 36 which engages the fastener elements 10 through the opening 22. The upper end of leg 32 extends outwardly at 38 and terminates in a loop 40 pivotally and loosely surrounding a mounting pin 42 extending between lugs 24 in spaced relation to the pivot pin 26. The upper end of leg 34 extends outwardly at 44 with the terminal end thereof received loosely in a recess or socket 46 in the toggle 16.

The spring catch 18 is of one piece leaf spring construction and the apex 36 is shaped to engage the fastener elements 10. As the inclined edge 30 prevents movement of the toggle l6 beyond a line extending through the pins 26 and 42, the spring will automatically lock itself when the toggle 16 is released inasmuch as the spring I8 is tensioned with the legs 32 and 34 being biased toward each other when in the locked position. Thus, if the toggle is accidentally lifted and the slider moved, the lock device will automatically lock in place when released.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A lock device for a zipper construction including interlocking fastener elements, a slider movable longitudinally for engaging and disengaging the fastener elements, a toggle pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof adjacent one end of said slider for manipulation thereof, and spring means engageable with said fastener elements, said spring means pivoted on said slider between said toggle pivot and the other end of said slider and interconnected to and adjacent the other end of said toggle and automatically engaged with the fastener elements in response to release of the toggle.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring means includes a leaf spring having a centrally disposed gripping portion defined by the bottom apex of a generally V- shaped spring.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said spring has its one end connected to the slider and the other end connected to the toggle with the apex extending down through an opening in said slider.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the end of said spring connected to the slider is connected to a pin spaced from the pivot axis of said toggle, the end of said spring connected to the toggle being disposed below a line extending between said pin and pivot axis of the toggle, said spring being biased to urge said toggle and apex of the spring downwardly.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said toggle includes an inclined edge engageable with the slider to limit the pivotal movement thereof to retain the end of the spring connected to the toggle below a line extending through the pivot axis and the pin connecting the spring to the slider. 

1. A lock device for a zipper construction including interlocking fastener elements, a slider movable longitudinally for engaging and disengaging the fastener elements, a toggle pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof adjacent one end of said slider for manipulation thereof, and spring means engageable with said fastener elements, said spring means pivoted on said slider between said toggle pivot and the other end of said slider and interconnected to and adjacent the other end of said toggle and automatically engaged with the fastener elements in response to release of the toggle.
 2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring means includes a leaf spring having a centrally disposed gripping portion defined by the bottom apex of a generally V-shaped spring.
 3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said spring has its one end connected to the slider and the other end connected to the toggle with the apex extending down through an opening in said slider.
 4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the end of said spring connected to the slider is connected to a pin spaced from the pivot axis of said toggle, the end of said spring connected to the toggle being disposed below a line extending between said pin and pivot axis of the toggle, said spring being biased to urge said toggle and apex of the spring downwardly.
 5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said toggle includes an inclined edge engageable with the slider to limit the pivotal movement thereof to retain the end of the spring connected to the toggle below a line extending through the pivot axis and the pin connecting the spring to the slider. 